• General information
• • Three continents (Asia, Africa, and Europe) meet in this area
  • Comprises territory of modern states of Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Iran
  • Spans an area of widely contrasting terrain, climate, and culture
• Fertile Crescent
• • Begins with Egypt on the southwest, moves up the Mediterranean coast through Palestine and Syria and then down the Tigris-Euphrates valley to the Persian Gulf
  • Can support agriculture and settled life
  • The earliest civilizations in the area developed here

• General information
• • Only 150 miles from north to south and 70 miles from west to east at its widest point
  • The major highways joining Egypt and Mesopotamia passed through Palestine - two major highways were Via Maris ("The Way of the Sea") and King's Highway
  • In a strategic location for commercial and military affairs - usually other nations enjoyed these commercial and military advantages - most significant international developments in the Ancient Near East affected Palestine
• Four major longitudinal zones (from west to east)
• • Coastal Plain
  • • Along east end of Mediterranean Sea
    • No natural harbors - Israel never was a maritime power
    • Subregions (from north to south)
    • • Plain of Sharon - at one time covered with oak forests
      • Plain of Philistia
      • • Densely populated during biblical times
        • Grain fields and gently rolling hills
        • Controlled by Philistines - name "Palestine" derived from Philistines
  • Central Hill Country
  • • Area of mountains, hills, and valleys - to the west the land slopes toward the Mediterranean Sea and to the east toward the Jordan Valley
    • Setting for most Israelite history
    • Olive, fig, and other fruit trees grow on slopes and grain fields and vineyards are cultivated in the valleys
    • Subregions (from north to south): Galilee, Samaria (Ephraim), and Judah (Judea)
    • Some significant areas

• • • • Valley of Esdraelon (Jezreel)
      • • Runs east-west between Galilee and Samaria
        • Important pass through the mountains through which a major trade route passed linking the coast to Syria
        • Fertile plain
        • City of Megiddo guarded the pass and was site of numerous decisive battles
      • Wilderness of Judah
      • • Begins a few miles south or east of Jerusalem
        • Stony, gray hills with little vegetation
      • Shephelah
      • • Between Judean hill country and Philistine plain
        • Most of battles between Philistines and Israelites occurred here
      • Negev (Negeb)
      • • Below Palestine
        • Barren area which merges into Sinai Desert

Jordan Valley

• • • Most distinctive geographical feature of Palestine

    • A rift valley extending from Mount Hermon in the north into east Africa

    • Jordan River

    • • Begins with springs at base of Mount Hermon in the north and flows south into Dead Sea
      • Dense thickets and high cliffs border the river making it a natural boundary

      • Dead Sea
        • Has no outlet
        • Lowest sea on earth - more than 1290 feet below sea level
        • Has such a high concentration of natural pollution that very little life can survive in its water
  • Transjordan

• • • High tableland which slopes east toward Arabian Desert
    • Four rivers (Yarmuk, Jabbok, and Arnon rivers and Brook of Zered) divide the region
    • Five subregions (from north to south)
    • • Bashan
      • • North of Yarmuk
        • Famous for grain and cattle
      • Gilead
      • • Between Yarmuk and Jabbok
        • Good for growing grapes and olives - also noted for medicinal balm in biblical times
      • Ammon
      • • Between Jabbok and Arnon
        • Modest agriculture and shepherding
      • Moab
      • • Between Arnon and Zered
        • Modest agriculture and shepherding
      • Edom
      • • South of Zered
        • Unsuitable for agriculture
        • Sources of income were collecting revenues from trade routes which passed through the territory (especially the King's Highway) - may have mined as well

• Two seasons
• • Rainy season (October to April) - harvest of winter grain crops occurs at end of this season
  • Dry season (rest of year) - growing season for grapes, figs, and olives
• Rainfall
• • Decreases from north to south and from west to east
  • Average rainfall in Jerusalem is 22 inches today
• Temperatures
• • Some specific areas
  • • Jerusalem's average midsummer temperature today is 74 F and average midwinter temperature is 48 F
    • Jericho has a subtropical climate
    • Wilderness of southern Judah is unbearably hot in midsummer
  • Sirocco - dry wind from the eastern desert which has a withering effect on people, animals, and vegetation